Volume 15 Issue 1, December 2023

Natural/synthetic hybrid double-network (DN) hydrogels with hierarchical anisotropy and high toughness characteristics are prepared by directly using a squid mantle as an anisotropic soft bioproduct for the primary network and polyacrylamide (PAAm) as a synthetic polymer for the secondary network. The obtained squid/PAAm DN gel maintains the complex orientation of the muscle fibers of the squid mantle and exhibits anisotropic, enhanced mechanical properties and excellent fracture resistance due to its unique composite structure. This hybrid strategy provides a general method for preparing hydrogels with elaborated anisotropy and determining functions derived from the anisotropy.

In this work, we prepared a composite hydrogel system of PDA-HA hydrogel-loaded CaO₂-ICG@LA@MnO₂ nanoparticles that showed excellent photothermal performance under NIR irradiation and realized the on-off release of oxygen and ROS. Controllable and sustainable oxygen release can promote the regeneration and repair of damaged tissue, and the generated ROS can effectively inhibit the outbreak of inflammation at the initial stage of wound healing. A full-thickness skin defect repair test was carried out in rats with the prepared hydrogel wound dressings and the results showed that hydrogel + NIR group had the most wound healing effective.

In this work, we demonstrated the critical roles of oxygen vacancies and substituted transition-metal atoms in determining the leakage current of epitaxial all-perovskite oxide capacitor, and established a strategy for reducing the leakage current via interface engineering.

Superconducting (SC) gap of elemental yttrium under extreme pressure conditions was directly probed via the point-contact spectroscopy (PCS) in a diamond anvil cell. Strong enhancement in the differential conductance near the zero-biased voltage is observed owing to Andreev reflection, a hallmark of superconductivity. Taken together with the large initial slope of the upper critical field, the large SC gap-to-T_c ratio suggests that Y belongs to a family of the strongly coupled BCS superconductors.

High-order 3D nanotube arrays (NTAs) arranged from mesoporous 2D N, B, P co-doped carbon network (NBP-CNW) were synthesize by a facile, well-controllable, eco-friendly and sustainable strategy using task-specific ionic liquids as precursors. NBP-CNW-NTAs modified flexible microelectrode was embed in microfluidic electrochemical biosensor chip for real-time tracking H₂O₂ secreted from different cancer cells (i.e., breast cancer cells, hepatoma cells and cervical cancer cells) with or without radiotherapy treatment. Furthermore, the functional microelectrode has been integrated into an implantable probe for in situ minimally invasive detection of surgically resected human breast specimens to identify the tumor tissues from the normal one.

A hybrid surface electrode array was developed, which exhibits superior signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and outstanding conformality with the cortex surface. It was used to detect the brain signals in awake, free-moving rat models with high-throughput spatiotemporal resolution. In addition, the pilocarpine-induced epileptic discharges and behavior were considerably suppressed upon the usage of this electrode-array system. These findings pave the way for the integration of graphene into bio-medical device platforms, and their use in cranial neuropathy treatment.

The recent advances realized in the syntheses and characterizations of both morphological- and molecular-level one-dimensional (1D) metal-halide perovskites with tunable structures, compositions, and properties, as well as optoelectronic applications are comprehensively reviewed. Furthermore, the challenges, prospects, and promising research directions are discussed, which we believe will help to accelerate the explorations of 1D metal-halide perovskites in the future.

We developed ultralong nanobelts comprising hydrated Na-intercalated oxygen-deficient potassium manganese oxide (H-Na-D-KMO), in which the Na⁺ ions were preintercalated and synchronously induced generation of oxygen vacancies. Results showed that the introduction of Na⁺ ions provided more paths to facilitate Mg²⁺ migration and induced more strain to create more active sites and the formation of oxygen vacancies improved the electrical properties. Consequently, the Mg-ion supercapacitors assembled with H-Na-D-KMO exhibited an unprecedented ultrahigh energy density of 108.4 Wh kg^–1 at 1100 W kg^–1 and good mechanical flexibility.

Although van der Waals (vdW) antiferromagnets are expected to reveal spin-based functional properties, the feasibility of spintronic applications at room temperature is limited owing to the lack of suitable materials. Here we use torque magnetometry and a uniaxial spin model to understand the room-temperature magnetic anisotropy of the vdW antiferromagnet, Co-doped Fe₅GeTe₂. We visualized detailed spin configurations using the spin model and demonstrated that the spin states are directly related to magnetic phases characterized by progressive reversal of the angle-dependent torque across spin-flop transition. The flexibility of the anisotropic spin Hamiltonian approach has broad applicability to other antiferromagnetic materials.

Developing a new technique/method and/or mechanism for separating ionic charges is critical to the fabrication of a high-performance nanogenerator. Here, we demonstrate that the magnetic force can be used to drive the movement and separation of charges within metal nanoparticles film when these nanoparticles are functionalize with charged magnetic ligands. Placing the magnetic field induces the gradient distribution of magnetic counterions which subsequently transforms into the electric potential and outputs electrical energy.

A freestanding three-dimensional graphdiyne-hollowed FeCoNi Prussian blue analog electrode (h-FeCoNi PBA@GDY) with highly selective and active interfaces was synthesized by in situ growth of GDY layer on the surface of h-FeCoNi PBA for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (ECNtRR) at ambient temperatures and pressures. Experimental results demonstrate the presence of the unique incomplete charge transfer between metal atoms and GDY can effectively enhance the intrinsic activity and the ability to increase the active sites of the electrocatalyst, promote fast redox switching, and high-density charge transport at the interface resulting in high reaction selectivity, activity and stability for ammonia production.

Gyroid-structured nanoporous chitosan is successfully fabricated by templated crosslinking reaction using nanoporous polymer as a template. A multiple pore-filling process is developed for templated synthesis to give well-ordered nanoporous chitosan. Bio-mimicking from the structural coloration of butterfly wing structure, the nanoporous chitosan with gyroid texture is highly appealing in the application of high reflective materials for UV optical devices.

A core/shell structured hybrid film comprised of N-doped carbon covering on single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized by a rapid electropolymerization method, which not only contains abundant exposed pyridinic N that leads to excellent catalytic activity for both ORR and OER, but also perfectly inherits the high conductivity, excellent flexibility, and porous structure of original SWCNT film, making it a desirable integrated oxygen electrode for Zn-air batteries.

In this work, we developed a novel fabrication strategy to construct elastic carbon framework electrocatalysts using nanocellulose fibers (CNFs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by directional freeze casting and interfacial assembly to prepare self-supporting flexible air electrodes. The obtained carbon framework has a directional porous structure, and N and S heteroatoms are uniformly doped in the carbon skeleton, showing excellent mechanical flexibility and excellent ORR performance. Moreover, we assembled an all-solid-state flexible zinc-air battery (FZAB), offering a smaller charge/discharge voltage gap and excellent cycling stability. These results demonstrate the potential of flexible carbon frameworks for the utilization and modification of flexible energy storage devices.

The exquisite structures of biological ion channels provide inspiration for designing and constructing artificial ion channels to achieve analogous functions. Hierarchically engineered heterogeneous nanochannels with excellent ion rectification, selectivity, and gating properties have attracted more and more attention. In this review, we briefly review the recent advances of hierarchically engineered nanochannel systems in terms of pore-on-pore and pore-in-pore structures, with an emphasis on the promising applications, including ion-selective transport, osmotic energy harvesting, separation, and biosensing.

In this work, a photodynamic therapy system based on conjugated polymers (CPs) is developed to inhibit the infection of RNA viruses. Three cationic CPs with different backbone structures fluorene-co-phenylene (PFP), thiophene (PMNT), and phenylene vinylene (PPV) exhibit different photoinactivation effects. PPV and PMNT cause effective inactivation of viruses under light irradiation, while SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped viruses keep infectious after treated by PFP, which is determined by the interactions between CPs with the proteins and gene of viruses. This work preliminarily reveals the effect of CP-virus interactions on their photoinactivation activity and would be beneficial to develop high-efficient antiviral PDT agents.

MOFs uniquely combine metal-atom centers and developed organic-based structures. Both features are attractive for catalysis. However, their isolating nature prevents them from effective use in electrocatalysis processes. Modifying the chemical structure to gain electric conductivity often harms its natural advantages. In this study, Borenstein et al. present a new approach to overcoming the non-conductivity of MOF b growing MOF nanoparticles in a conductive carbon host. The host’s porosity controls the MOF nanoparticles’ size and their electric properties while preserving their structure. As a result, the composition efficiently electro-catalyzes carbon dioxide into formic acid at low overpotentials.

A high-performance bacterial cellulose/carbon nanotubes conductive fiber is developed through the in-situ biosynthesis. Through mimicking the structure of muscle fascicles, the composite fiber integrates high strength, high stiffness, high fatigue resistance, and stable electrical performance into one material. Based on those excellent properties, the muscle-inspired fiber is competitive to play a key role in the fields of intelligent fiber-based composites and devices.

Microstructures in organisms are often in quasiordered distribution, which brings specific functions and performance stability. Here, a numerical model was built to demonstrate the structural whiteness caused by the quasiordered state of the tubular architectures in Morpho theseus wing scales. The method is beneficial to tailored disorder in periodic structures to achieve better properties.

Nanoarchitectonics concept is essential to bridge the gaps between biology and materials chemistry. Based on this fundamental principle, this review article provides pore-engineered nanoarchitectonics for cancer therapy by integrating basic descriptions and exemplifying therapy applications. This review paper briefly summarizes pore-engineered nanoarchitectonics basics according to classification based on material porosity and composition. We discuss how to design mesoporous material and highlight the appealing points of the progress in the clinical translation of mesoporous materials for cancer treatment. Nanoarchitectonics could be an important key concept for future advanced life technologies as well as currently required cancer therapy.

Owing to both solid- and liquid-like nature, gels are unique smart materials with several potential applications. However, most gels are inherently susceptible to harsh environments. Inspired by the “tun forming mechanism” of tardigrades, we proposed a simple two-step process to fabricate extremotolerant glycerogels with extremoprotected polymer-glycerol networks, which can survive from −50 to 80 °C for prolonged periods. The method is applicable to various types of polymers and crosslinkers and can be integrated with various functional materials to realize glycerogels with wide-ranging functionalities and properties. Therefore, this method dramatically enhances the selection of gels for bio, electrical/electronic, and soft robotics applications.

Due to their unique physical characteristics, surfactants containing fluorocarbon chains form hierarchical patterns of two-dimensional mesoscopic/microscopic self-assemblies on the surface of water. This review describes the overarching physical mechanism, the competitive interplay of line tension and dipole interaction and discusses several key experimental and analytical techniques characterizing the shape, size, correlation, and viscoelasticity of mesoscopic/microscopic self-assemblies on water, which is often non-trivial. Some of the recent biomedical applications, including biomimetic surface coating, contrast agents in multimodal imaging, and controlled delivery, are introduced to highlight how the unique physicochemical properties of fluorinated self-assemblies can be applied in materials science.

2D Ni/ITQ-2-co material prepared by ligand-chelating impregnation approach shows outstanding activity and stability in the conversion of bio-derived triglycerides (TGs) or free fatty acids (FFAs) to diesel range alkanes, beneficially from the highly dispersive Ni nanoclusters and immobilization effect of 2D zeolite.

This review highlights the recent advances in the bioapplications of higher-order DNA origami structures at multiple scales. After a brief introduction to the development of DNA origami, we describe the use of DNA origami structures to assist in single-molecule studies, manipulate lipid membranes, direct cell behaviors, and deliver drugs as smart nanocarriers. Our opinions on the current challenges and future directions are also shared.

This study provided a universality method for synthesis of nanotherapeutics for encapsulating various metal complexes. The dual-targeted MP3/AA@NPs greatly improved discrimination between cancer cells and normal cells, moreover, MP3/AA@NPs displayed good in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities as well as stimulating immunotherapeutic response.

Inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with a p-i-n architecture are being actively researched due to their concurrent good stability and decent efficiency. In particular, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted PSCs has seen clear improvement in recent years and is now almost approaching that of n-i-p PSCs. Here, we systematically review recent progress in the development of high-efficiency inverted PSCs, and highlight the development of charge transport materials and the effects of defect passivation strategies on the performance of inverted PSCs, with the aim of providing constructive suggestions for the future development of inverted PSCs.

Silica-polymer hybrids are promising materials for bone repair. Here, biodegradable, tough and porous silica-polyurethane hybrid scaffold was successfully fabricated. Polyurethane is a versatile polymer that can be designed to have desired properties. Polymerization and alkoxysilane functionalization under high-temperature formed polyurethanes with high molecular weight, which enabled rapid gelation during the sol-gel process. This allowed porous hybrid scaffold fabrication through the facile salt-leaching method. The hybrid scaffold had self-healing properties which can self-fit into irregular bone defects. Furthermore, silicate ion release from the hybrid scaffold induced angiogenesis and osteogenic differentiation, while the porous structure suppressed chronic inflammation.

We developed a novel surface engineering technique using electrospinning and hydrothermal processes to create a flexible, binder-free electrode composed of Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/carbon nanofibers (MCNFs) coated with amorphous RuOx. The MXene served as a template for the growth of amorphous and disordered state RuO_x that positively impacted electrochemical performance. The combination of RuOx and MXene resulted in an enhanced pseudocapacitive reaction, resulting in a supercapacitor with a record-high energy density of 8.5 Wh kg^–1 at 85.8 W kg^–1, as well as excellent flexibility.

Infrared-active InAs quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized with zinc coordination complexes for surface passivation, resulting in improved optoelectronic properties. The resulting InAs QDs doped with Zn showed narrowed size distributions, reduced surface defects, and modulation of electronic properties through Zn surface doping. These InAs:Zn QDs exhibited improved electrical properties when integrated into infrared photodiodes.

We developed a ROS-responsive and controllable nanocarrier (GC-EB) that efficiently delivered a clinically used antifungal drug, voriconazole (VOR). GC-EB-VOR exhibited high penetration through corneal barriers, good retention in the cornea and controllable drug release under low concentrations of ROS. Mechanistically, the successful delivery and accumulation of GC-EB-VOR in the cornea followed by the inhibition of oxidative stress and of the inflammatory response contributed to the therapeutic effect of GC-EB-VOR against fungal keratitis.

This review highlights single-aggregate spectroscopy studies of conjugated polymer aggregates based on a combination of solvent vapor annealing and single-molecule fluorescence techniques and draws mesoscopic connections between morphology, electronic coupling, and photophysics in conjugated polymers.

The use of an identical electrolyte in electrochemical metallization (ECM)-based neuron and synaptic devices has not yet been achieved. We demonstrate ECM devices containing the same ferroelectric PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃ (PZT) electrolyte, which can sustain both neuron and synaptic behavior depending on the active electrode. The Ag/PZT/La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ (LSMO) threshold switching memristor exhibits abrupt and volatile resistive switching characteristics, resulting in neuron devices. In contrast, the Ni/PZT/LSMO memory switching memristor displays gradual, non-volatile resistive switching behavior which leads to synaptic devices. The divergent behavior of the ECM devices is attributed to greater control of cation migration through the ultrathin ferroelectric PZT.

Topological semimetal HoPtBi exhibits anomalous AMR effect in paramagnetic state. The AMR exhibits a novel transition from a quasi-twofold to fourfold symmetry and finally forms a stable rotated fourfold symmetry as B increases. C₂ and C₄ signals with phase angle transitions dominate the novel AMR. Anisotropy of magnetic-field tunable effect induces the topological band change and leads to the phase angle transition.

A modular assembly strategy has been demonstrated to construct metal nanoparticles functionalized mesoporous carbon two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets by organizing zero-dimensional (0D) spherical monomicelle modules on the 2D supporting blocks. The resultant materials exhibit an excellent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction, which holds a great potential as a catalyst for fuel cells.

This work aims to fabricate well-ordered nanonetwork Au through a bottom-up approach using templated electrochemical deposition for enhanced mechanical properties. As evidenced by nanoindentation and micro-compression tests, diamond-structured Au fabricated exhibits high reduced modulus and yield strength above the Hashin-Shtrikman upper bound due to the deliberate structuring and nanosized effects.

SPHNs can effectively accumulate in solid tumor via magnetic-RGD dual-targeting effect for valid CDDP delivery, resulting in a significantly improved antitumor effect with minimal side effects.

The coexistence of ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism has been a traditional challenge for a long time. In this work, we propose a method of transition metal implantation into hybrid perovskites, which realizes the mutual regulation of magnetism and electricity, and obtains an obvious multiferroic magnetic-electric coupling effect. This study provides a new idea for realizing room-temperature magnetoelectric coupling of multiferroic materials employing ion implantation and paves the way for the realization of a new generation of spin-dependent electronic devices.

Although the electrostatic tuning by three-terminal devices is generally weak for phase transition materials, it can control phases with much hither precision than temperature or pressure. This technique was applied to the scaled-down VO₂ metal-insulator transitions, where the material phase is controlled by the gate voltage. The crossover from continuous to binary transition with scaling down was demonstrated, and the critical channel length was given by domain boundary instability. Interestingly, below the critical channel length, the influence of the noncritical stimulus (drain voltage in this case) disappeared because the spatial degree of freedom is lost in the single-domain VO₂ channel.

This paper introduces OPV, an organic semiconductor material, as a novel photosensitizer to kill intracellular bacteria that are infectious and antibiotic-resistant. It explains how OPV binds to bacterial membranes and produces reactive oxygen species by blue light, guiding photodynamic therapy design. It proves the excellent antibacterial effect of OPV against Porphyromonas gingivalis and MRSA in vitro and in vivo, without damaging normal cells or tissues, indicating good biocompatibility and safety. It also shows that OPV can be excited by dental blue light curing lamps, facilitating clinical applications.

The single crystals of lithium rare earth fluorides exhibit remarkable magnetocaloric performance with a record-high entropy change of 16.73 J kg^-1 K^-1 achieved under a very small magnetic field of 5 kOe.

Drawing inspiration from the structural attributes of mussels, we have introduced a riveting layer into our hydrogel-plastic hybrids, facilitating robust bonding between hydrogel networks and plastic substrates. This work underscores the immense potential and advantages that this integration of hydrogels and plastics holds, especially in the development of intelligent robotics.

Despite enormous efforts by many research groups, Sr₂IrO₄ was found to stay remarkably insulating in thin film form. Now, a high-pressure oxygen annealing treatment on the Sr₂IrO₄ thin film realized the long-sought metallicity for the first time. An emerging transport phase diagram was deduced from the experiment that features an interplay between two states: the robust insulating state, which is likely dominated by the defect scattering effect of planar oxygen vacancies O(2), and the new metallic state, which likely reflects an intrinsic bulk-like property of the IrO₂ planes with effective electron doping due to apical oxygen vacancies O(1).

In this work, we report a strategy with which to realize efficient manipulation of CNT networks by forming double networks with branched polyethylenimine (PEI). The double network was highly viscoelastic and ductile and enabled efficient film stretching or creeping for CNT alignment, which dramatically improved the mechanical strengths of the CNT films. Due to viscous drag from the polymer network, the CNTs showed enhanced movability in reconstructing new networks, which made the film repairable. The repairability resulted from the branched polymeric structure. This double-networking strategy provides a new way to manipulate CNT assemblies for high-performance applications.

A liquid–solid dual-phase magnetoactive microlattice metamaterial composed of flexible 3D-printed polymer shell and magnetorheological (MR) fluid has been designed and fabricated. The MR fluid-filled magnetoactive microlattices demonstrated remarkable recoverability (~50%) and be substantially stiffened in the presence of a magnetic field, with an ~200% increment in stiffness at 60 mT. Based on specific applications, the mechanical properties of this magnetoactive microlattice metamaterial can be modulated on demand, leading to certain programmable stress-strain behavior.

We evaluated the liquid fragility and structural and dynamic heterogeneity of glassy solids. The most fragile alloy exhibited the maximum dynamic heterogeneity in the mechanical unfreezing process. We observed that atomic displacement significantly correlated with degrees of clustering of local atomic orders. The clustering produced during the glass-forming quenching process enhanced structural and dynamic heterogeneities. Therefore, there are correlations among liquid fragility, dynamic heterogeneity in liquid alloys, and dynamic and structural heterogeneities in glassy solids. In addition, the alloy with the most fragility exhibited the largest difference in atomic mobility between the densely and loosely packed local atomic orders.

A facile and scalable approach was developed using ultrafine bubble (UFB)-assisted heteroagglomeration to fabricate high-concentration, impurity-free nanoceramic/metal composite powders for additive manufacturin. Individual ZrO₂ or Al₂O₃ nanoparticles up to ~10 wt% were homogeneously decorated on the surface of Ti-6Al-4V powders through the bridging effect of the negatively charged UFBs. The nanoceramics were completely decomposed and dissolved into the matrix upon laser irradiation; therefore, a unique Ti nanocomposite exhibiting both high strength and ductility was obtained.

This work presents a design guide for anlog memristive devices for artificial synapses in neuromorphic computing. Ge implanted a-Si serves multiple fuctions to induce multifilamentary switching and prevent silicide formation. The linear synapse update behaviors were observed thanks to multi-filament formation, which was confirmed by TEM.

The photodiode, FET, spintronic, piezoelectric, thermoplastic and molecular sensing applications of free-standing 2D GaN synthesized by sonochemical and Hummer’s method.

The low coercivity in Nd-Fe-B-based magnets, which is limited to around 20% of the anisotropy field (H_A) of the main phase, is a bottleneck for their usage at elevated temperatures. Herein, we overcome the limit and demonstrate a coercivity of 40% H_A by tuning the magnetism of grain boundaries, enabling their applications at elevated temperatures.

A two-dimensional array of magnetostrictive nanomagnets was used to demonstrate strong coupling between two different magnons (k_M1′ and k_M1′′) mediated by a phonon (k_ph). The coupling is strong, leading to the formation of a new quasi-particle – binary magnon-polaron. These two different magnons show 180° phase difference which is reminiscent of dark magnon modes. We show that it is possible to engineer this magnon-phonon coupling by choosing the frequency and wavelength of the acoustic wave to match the frequency and wavelength of the spin wave, the latter being controlled by a magnetic field.

We observed a pressure-induced semiconductor-metal transition, which was followed by the emergence of superconductivity in the nonsymmorphic topological insulator KHgAs. The superconducting transition temperature reaches a maximum of approximately 6.6 K at 31.8 GPa, after which it slightly decreases up to 55 GPa. We identified the pressure-induced phase transitions and determined the structures of three high-pressure phases of KHgAs through structure prediction. Our findings establish the high-pressure phase diagram of the hourglass fermion compound KHgAs and demonstrate the potential coexistence of superconductivity with a topologically nontrivial feature protected by nonsymmorphic symmetries.

An interfacial co-assembly strategy for synthesizing gradient mesoporous hollow silica sheets is reported. The SO₄²⁻ and NH₄⁺ were aggregated by protonated amphiphilic polymer PVP and formed (NH₄)₂SO₄ crystals at the n-pentanol-water interface. Negatively charged silica oligomers can be confined on the (NH₄)₂SO₄ crystal surface by the Coulomb interaction of NH4⁺ and co-assembled with CTAB under the catalysis of ammonia molecules. After removing the (NH₄)₂SO₄ cores and CTAB template by washing and extraction, the first layer of mesoporous hollow silica was formed. Modulating the n-pentanol-water interface to n-hexane-water interface, n-hexane swelled CTAB micelle co-assembled with silica oligomers and formed the second layer of mesoporous silica with larger pore size. The finally obtained gradient mesoporous silica sheet shows remarkable gradient rejection rates for molecules with different sizes.

Precisely tunable high-entropy oxides (HEO) via controllable one-step combustion within a few seconds offers the rational design capability of optimal phases, structures and configurational entropy. The screened HEO-based anodes exhibit outstanding specific capacity (1165 mAh g⁻¹, 80.9% retention at 0.1 A g⁻¹_, and 791 mAh g⁻¹ even at 3 A g⁻¹), excellent rate capability, and stable cycling life (1252 mAh g⁻¹, 80.9% retention after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g⁻¹).

We present a strategy for significantly increasing the H contents on catalysts for the HER in alkaline electrolyte solutions, which were generated by combining ruthenium with H_xYO_2−x on an oxygen vacancy-rich graphene system. This strategy greatly increased the hydrogen coverage on the RuYO_2−x/C catalyst to enhance the HER performance.

The rise of three-dimensional topological insulators as an attractive playground for the observation and control of various spin-orbit effects has ushered in the field of topological spintronics. To fully exploit their potential as efficient spin-orbit torque generators, investigating the efficiency of spin injection and transport at various topological insulator/ferromagnet interfaces is crucial. Here, using all-optical time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry, we demonstrate efficient room-temperature spin pumping in Sub/BiSbTe_1.5Se_1.5(BSTS)/Co₂₀Fe₆₀B₂₀(CoFeB)/SiO₂ thin films characterized by the spin-mixing conductances of the interface and the spin diffusion length in BSTS, and obtain an ultrahigh interfacial spin transparency.

A molecular imaging-based strategy was proposed for precise diagnosing the depression through specifically visualizing the inflammation status associated with depressed brain. The inflammation-targeting MRI nanoprobe that can specifically target the inflamed vascular endothelial cells was constructed through attaching the ICAM-1 targeting peptides on biocompatible Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle. Through nanoprobe-based SWI, the spatial distribution of inflammation in depressed brain can be mapped in vivo. This strategy not only facilitate insight into the biological mechanism underlying depression, but also provide a target within the depressed brain for the further development of anti-inflammatory therapies.

III-V commercial optical semiconductor GaP crystalizes in either zincblende or wurtzite structure at ambient pressure. Zincblende GaP transforms into orthorhombic phase across a critical pressure during compression, accompanying piezochromic transition, metallization and superconductivity. Upon decompression, superconductivity could be preserved toward ambient pressure and displays broadening features due to amorphization. It reveals the presence of two high-pressure superconducting phases.

Inspired by Bouligand structure in the dactyl club of the mantis shrimp, direct ink writing is used to 3D print Bouligand composites reinforced with glass microfibres at controllable pitch angles. The Bouligand composites with a pitch angle of 40˚ exhibited a maximum energy absorption of 2.4 kJ/m², which was 140 % higher than the unidirectional composites. The topography of the fractured surface supplemented with numerical simulations revealed the combination of crack twisting and crack bridging mechanisms. These findings have implications for the microstructural design of engineered composites using direct ink writing for applications in aerospace, transportation, defense, etc.

In this work, by involving high-energy scanning X-ray diffraction strain mapping, we identify and distinguish between structural and elastic heterogeneity in the extremely rejuvenated metallic glasses under triaxial compression. Microindentation hardness hints at an unsymmetrical hardening/softening picture and further reveals the complementary effects of stress and structure modulation. Our results suggest that simultaneous stress and structural modulation can be used to enhance rejuvenation beyond the limits known to date, and may therefore aid in the design of MGs with enhanced ductility and strain-hardening capability.

Controlling molecular spin quantum bits optically could help us reduce decoherence and raise the working temperature of quantum computing. Here we show theoretically exchange interactions and spin dynamics could be mediated by optically driven triplet state, leading to quantum gate operations. This indicates a great potential for radical as molecular building block for quantum circuits. A molecular quantum architecture, combining molecular network and nano-photonics, was also proposed. We thus expect the computational exploration of chemical database for molecular quantum computing. This work would therefore open up a new direction to use optical instruments and ‘Click Chemistry’ towards molecular quantum technology.

Ba_0.95La_0.05SnO₃ epitaxial films grown on (0001)-oriented Al₂O₃ with a BaZrO₃/MgO template bilayer exhibit lower sheet resistance by three orders of magnitude compared with template-free films. These epitaxial films with single-crystalline level properties, including high ultraviolet‒visible transmittance (~82%) and high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (~18.6 dB at 10 GHz), can be used for the development of stable and inexpensive optoelectronic and energy applications of epitaxial BLSO films grown on Al₂O₃.

Osmotic energy generation, using aramid nanofiber (ANF) semiconductor membranes for light-driven proton transport, displayed wavelength and intensity-dependent potential and current under unilateral illumination. The simultaneous application of illumination and pressure led to a five-fold voltage increase and a three-fold current increase. Density functional theory calculations and spectroscopic measurements confirmed ANF’s role in photoinduced proton transport. This research has significant implications for developing flexible, stable ANF membrane-based energy devices.

In this work, 3D printing shape of memory polymer (SMP) based smart structures is conducted using a Digital light processing 3D printer and a customized resin in combination with liquid crystals. Lattice structures are fabricated and programmed to achieve tunable mechanical properties. The strain-sensing response is measured to demonstrate the utility of these lattice structures as smart patches for joint movement sensing. Changes in the electrical resistance are measured during the stretching and compression of the structure. The SMPs can be prepared conveniently and can potentially be used for various applications, such as smart tools, toys, and meta-material sensors.

This perspective highlights recent applications of ionogels that take advantage of their ionic conductivity, nonvolatility, and high thermal and electrochemical stability. Examples include sensors, batteries, electronics, 3D printing, and adhesives. Improving the mechanical properties of ionogels broadens the application space; thus, simple strategies to achieve tough ionogels are introduced. Finally, the potential applications and future opportunities of ionogels are discussed.

Oxide-based thermoelectric materials that exhibit a high figure of merit are promising because of their good chemical and thermal stabilities and their relative harmlessness compared with chalcogenide-based state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials. The layered barium-cobalt oxide (Ba_1/3CoO₂) exhibits a record-high ZT of 0.55 at 600 °C in air. The increase in ZT is directly originated by the decreased thermal conductivity of Ba_1/3CoO₂. As we hypothesized, the greater the atomic mass, the lower the thermal conductivity, resulting in higher ZT. The ZT is reliable and the highest among thermoelectric oxides. Moreover, this value is comparable to those of p-type PbTe and p-type SiGe.

With the use of a fluorine-containing block providing a surface tension as low as that of PDMS (19.9 < \(\gamma\) < 21.5 mN/m), the PDMS-b-PPeFPA copolymer is synthesized to create a volume-symmetric lamellar structure. Under the symmetric confinement with simultaneous dual neutral interfaces, lamellar microdomains with a sub-10 nm half-pitch feature size are successfully oriented perpendicular to the interfaces at room temperature (RT). Together with unidirectionally aligned perpendicular lamellae along the electric vector in a short period (0.5 h) at RT, we demonstrate a unidirectional alignment of the perpendicular air–inorganic (oxidized PDMS) lamellae between the electrodes.

A WO₃ nanoneedle film was developed for a gas sensor to detect low concentrations of acetone gas, which is a diabetes biomarker. The sensor exhibited a high response (19.72) to 10 ppmv acetone gas. The sensor also exhibited a high response (25.36) to 1 ppmv NO₂, which is related to asthma. The limits of detection for acetone and NO₂ gases were estimated to be 2.4 and 1.5 ppbv, respectively. The sensor exhibited superior ability to detect low concentrations of biomarker gases. The unique characteristics of the WO₃ nanoneedle film contributed to its high response rates.

Malaria continues to be among the most lethal infectious diseases. In the last two decades, we have witnessed unprecedented success in reducing the mortality rate. With the UN resolution of eradicating malaria by 2030 approaching fast, the scientific community has devoted substantial attention to interdisciplinary research using the latest opto-/magnetic-based technologies to detect a novel biomarker coming from the malarial pigment (hemozoin), which also carries vital information for discovering targeted drugs. This perspective article looks into the growing interest in this field and discusses the practical applicability of these sensing technologies.

Two-dimensional semiconductors are considered as field-effect transistors to overcome short channel effects and reduce the device size. As contacts to the metallic electrodes are decisive for the device performance, we study the electronic properties of contacts between Janus MoSSe and various two-dimensional metals. We demonstrate that weak interactions at these van der Waals contacts suppress Fermi level pinning and show that ohmic contacts can be formed for both terminations of Janus MoSSe, generating favorable transport characteristics.

The fabrication and development of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with exceptional functionalities is a rapidly expanding field. The extrinsic factors, such as the existence of grains and different phases, would complicate understanding the physical phenomena. We classified the epitaxial system into atomic-site disordered (ASD) and amorphous system into structurally disordered (SD) states, respectively, to exclude the extrinsic effects of HEAs. With a comprehensive study of the magnetic and transport properties, we can further promote the research of high entropy systems.